Jug with collapsible leg structure



` Sept. 3, 1957 J. R. MANGO JUG WITH coLLAPsTBLE LEG STRUCTURE Filed Oct. 18, 1956 United States Patent O JUG WITH COLLAPSIBLE LEG STRUCTURE `Ioseph R. Mango, Midlothian, Ill., assignor to Columbian Enameling & Stamping Co., Inc., Terre Haute, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Application October 18, 1956, Serial No. 616,667

3 Claims. (Cl. 220-69) My invention relates to a jug with a collapsible leg structure and has for its object the provision of a device of this character so arranged that it can be completely emptied without tilting.

Jugs of this nature are used for the transportation of liquids and have means for presently dispensing the liquid.

I have designed a collapsible leg structure for jugs of this nature which permits the legs to be distended when the contents are to be discharged so that the discharge faucet, which is near the base of the jug, may be high enough from the ground or table so that a glass for the reception of part of the contents may be placed underneath the faucet and thus avoid lifting and tilting the jug.

The object of my invention is the provision of a device which is simple in structure, easily manufactured, and capable of extensive use.

I will describe my invention more in detail by referring to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front view of the jug with the legs in distended position;`

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line 2 2 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the jug and leg structure with the legs in distended position;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view illustrating the association of one of the legs with two other legs by means of a link;

Fig. 5 shows the link in connection with a crank associated with the said two other legs of the structure;

Fig. 6 shows one end of the structure in collapsed condition; and

Fig. 7 is a detailed view of a bearing forming part of the structure.

Referring more particularly to Fig. l, I show a jug 1 having a closure 2 at the top thereof and having a faucet 3 associated with the control member therefor 4.

The jug, when the legs are in their distended position, appears as shown in Fig. l, there being a single leg 5 at the rearward portion of the jug and two legs 6, 6 at the forward portion of the jug.

In order to explain the leg structure, reference is directed to Figs. 2 and 3. Fig. 2 shows the base portion 7 of the jug as countersunk at 8 to permit the legs to be collapsed therein.

The base is further-countersunk, as at 9, to permit certain elements when the legs are collapsed to be housed therein, as shown more clearly in Fig. 6.

The leg structure is mounted on a plate 10 which in turn is mounted within the lower countersunk portion 8. This plate is held in place by screws 11.

Referring again more particularly to Fig. 3 I show the two legs 6, 6 as being part of a substantially U-shaped structure, this U-shaped structure having at its central portion a crank 12. It is by virtue of this crank that the legs 6, 6 are collapsed and distended.

The portions of the U-shaped structure at the side of the crank are held in rotatable condition by the bearing elements 13, as shown more clearly in Fig. 7.

The collapse and distension of the leg structure moves Patented Sept. 3, 19557 the crank 12 into the deeper depression 9. The legs `are moved into their inner or outer positions by means of a link 14 having rotatable engagement with the crank 12, which link is rotatably mounted on a finger 15 forming part of the leg structure 5.

The finger 15 forms part of a U-shaped leg portion 16 forming part of the leg structure 5.

It will be seen that the leg 5 has an extending portion 17 which thereupon is bent at right angles to form the U-shaped structure ending in the finger 15. A portion of this U-shaped element forms part of the bearing for the leg 5, which bearing is completed by the element 18 similar in form to the elements 13.

The legs 6 are shown in their collapsed position in Fig. 2 by dotted lines.

It will be seen from what has been described that if the lower portion of the leg 5 is moved toward the right (Fig. 3) that the U-shaped structure will rotate and by means of the finger 15 and link 14 serve to rotate the legs 6 to the left, thus collapsing all of the legs within the main depression in the base. At the same time the crank and link structure occupy the space in the second depression 9.

When the legs are collapsed they are all within the contines of the apron 19 of the base shown more clearly in Fig. 2. The legs may be collapsed and distended by grasping either one of the legs and moving it toward its collapsed or distended position.

A spring 20 cooperates with the central portion of the U-shaped element to hold the legs yieldingly in both collapsed and distended condition.

From what has been thus described it is thought that the nature of my invention will be clear and what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A collapsible leg structure for a container comprising a container, a faucet near its lower portion for discharge of the contents thereof, said container having a two-level countersunk base for housing said leg structure when collapsed, said leg structure including a U- shaped member having two legs united by a crank arm, a single leg member having a hinge spaced with relation to the U-shaped member and in alignment with the deeper of the countersunk portions of said base, a link connecting the crank arm and the single leg member at a point spaced from its hinge, and a spring clip for holding said link in its open and collapsed positions.

2. A collapsible leg structure for a container comprising a container, a faucet near its lower portion for discharge of the contents thereof, said container having a two-level countersunk base for housing said leg structure when collapsed, said leg structure including a U-shaped member having two legs united by a crank arm, a single leg member having a hinge spaced with relation to the U-shaped member and in alignment with the deeper of the countersunk portions of said base, a link connecting the crank arm and the single leg member at a point spaced from its hinge, and means for holding said link in its open and collapsed positions.

3. A collapsible leg structure for a container comprising a container, a faucet near its lower portion for discharge of the contents thereof, said container having a countersunk base for housing said leg structure when collapsed, said leg structure comprising a hinged U-shaped member constituting two legs united by a crank arm, a single leg member hinged near the opposite side of said base, a link pivotally associated with said leg members whereby they may be collapsed and distended in unison, and means for yieldingly holding said link in the collapsed and distended positions of said legs.

No references cited. 

